Monday, August 10, 2015

It includes
a library with more than 10,000 publications about the history of medicine

There are
many fine editions from the sixteenth to the eighteenth century, including very
important sixteenth century books printed by Aldus Manutius and his son

Faithful
reconstruction of an old pharmacy of the seventeenth century and an alchemical
laboratory

Among the pieces exhibited:

Collection
of Roman and Etruscan votive vows

Horn of the
Unicorn, mythical animal, but in fact a narwhal tooth, a very rare cetacean. It
was believed to be an antidote against evil

Skull from
the archaeological site of Boscoreale

Mauriceau
syringe or rubber tube which was applied to a brass syringe to introduce holy
water into the uterine cavity, in order to baptize before the birth the fetuses
that were running the risk of succumbing during labor

The oldest
coach of the Red Cross

Machine for
grinding of china that was used here to treat malaria as early as 1632